1 Chronicles

⁶But Levi and Benjamin he did not include among them, for the king's order was detestable to Joab. ⁷And God was displeased with this [reliance on human resources], and He smote Israel. ⁸And David said to God, I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. But now, I beseech You, take away the hateful wickedness of Your servant; for I have done very foolishly. ⁹And the Lord said to Gad, David's seer, ¹⁰Go and tell David, Thus says the Lord: I offer you three things; choose one of them, that I may do it to you. ¹¹So Gad came to David and said to him, Thus says the Lord: Take which one you will: ¹²Either three years of famine, or three months of devastation before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord and pestilence in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him Who sent me.